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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gfunk" data-source="post: 857441" data-attributes="member: 1813">Session 35Hatred, Strife, and TyrannyDreadmaster Amal walked towards Fzoul Chembryl’s audience hall with some trepidation.  The last few weeks had been disastrous for the Zhentarim military units that were occupying Yulash.  Thanks to the brilliant strategies employed by Marissa, an avatar of Sune and leader of the Red Plumes, the Zhents had suffered horrific losses that may have seriously compromised their position in the war-torn city.The last person to bring Fzoul such ill tidings never lived to tell the tale.  The Chosen of Bane apparently did not appreciate it when Dreadmaster Kahlark had informed him that several of Manshoon’s stasis clones had survived following the wizard’s “assassination.”As he approached a seated Fzoul, Amal had a difficult time, as always, reading exactly what his master was thinking.  “Salutations, Chosen.  I wish our meeting could have occurred under more favorable circumstances.”Amal paused briefly before continuing, “I am afraid that our forces do not fare well in Yulash.  Though both Bane and Loviatar favor us, the Red Plumes have several arcane elements, including many former Cormyrian War Wizards, that we cannot hope to match.”“I take it then that the Arcane Devotees of Bane have proven unreliable?  Most unfortunate.  With the majority of the Dale armies marching away towards Tilverton, I had hoped that we could finally take Yulash and push south into the undefended Dales.  But now you are telling me that it is impossible.”“Your assessment, as always, is accurate Chosen.  If our troops are not reinforced within a tenday, then we will have to withdraw them.”Absently pulling his moustache – not a good sign – Fzoul remained silent for several minutes as his minion wordlessly waited.  Finally, he spoke, “Tell me what you know of Tilverton, Amal.”Taken aback by the unexpected question, the Dreadmaster took a few moments to collect his thoughts, “Apparently, following Lolth’s departure or demise, it has become a haven for Kiaransalee the drow goddess of vengeance and undeath.  Their leader, a hierophant of considerable power, is Irae T’ssaren.  My sources tell me that she plans some ritual that will result in a mass animation of corpses into powerful revenants.  She plans to use this force to take the Dales.”“Very good Amal, a most impressive analysis,” Fzoul’s smile put the Dreadmaster at ease, “Could you make this Irae T’ssaren an ally?  If she is able destroy the Dale army marching towards her and pushed north, then it would force Hillsfar to counter-attack them or risk losing most of the Dales.  Of course, this would allow us to finally reclaim Yulash and perhaps march on Hillsfar itself.”Amal bowed low, this was his chance to redeem himself in Fzoul’s eyes, “Chosen, I promise you that I will convince her.  No matter what it takes, in the name of the Dreadlord, I will bring her to our side.”-----------------------------------------------------------“He’s not coming through.”“What do you mean?”“I mean I opened the Gate but Joachim is either unwilling to come through or he’s dead.”After spending the day in Mechanus going through the charred remnants of the Cathezar’s possessions, Nurn wanted nothing more than to get out the plane.  Being a being of chaos, the blonde man felt extremely uncomfortable in a plane that was law and order personified.“Well just get us out of her then, I can’t stand it any more!”Nodding, Entropy opened another Gate directly to the Undying Temple.As the pair stepped through they were shocked to see Jhorgani the drider waiting for them and she nearly leapt upon them until she recognized her Mistress.“A thousand pardons Mistress, but we have been on high alert since the incident.  We tried to contact you but could not make a connection,” the drider vampire explained.“What are you talking about?”“Your allies took advantage of your absence Mistress.  The despised cleric Joachim and his two companions tried to destroy the Undying Temple.  Thanks to your vision in preparing our defenses, however, we were able to repel them.  Though Joachim escaped, we slew the other two,” laughing she continued, “Dorina has animated the paladin and she now serves the Revenancer.”-----------------------------------------------------------With an unbelievably smug look on her face, Entropy remained seated with Noir looking the former paladin directly in the eye.  With every fiber of her being, the paladin turned revenant wanted to leap across the table and strangle her former ally.  However, a watchful Dorina T’ssaren stood by Noir’s side stroking her head with the Claw of the Revenancer.  An artifact empowered by Kiaransalee herself, it allowed its possessor to animate any corpse into a revenant of tremendous strength and power.  Furthermore, it gave the animator absolute control over the created revenant.The Alienist continued her gloating, “How many times must the Revenancer crush you before you see the truth?  You cannot hope to defeat the White Banshee.”Prevented by Dorina from killing Entropy, Noir said nothing.“Noir, you were once my friend and trusted ally.  After we slew Irae T’ssaren together I brought your broken body back to the Temple of the Triad for resurrection.  I could have animated you, but I chose not to.  Yet here you are, an undead pawn of the Revenancer having stabbed me in the back.  Why?”Seeing that Noir continued her silence, Entropy motioned to Dorina, “Compel her to answer Dorina!”As Dorina sent the telepathic commands to her undead servant, Noir briefly resisted but could not hope to avoid the artifact’s power, “I . . . was convinced by Joachim to go along.  He said that the Dale armies could be defeated by your revenant army.”“Not ‘could’ Noir, ‘will.’  You must forget this goal of yours, Cormyr is no longer the place you once called home.  Even if we are displaced, some other agents will take our place.  Lolth has forever corrupted this country, it can never be restored.  Accept the new way of things.”Letting her comments sink in for a few seconds, Entropy continued, “I offer you an opportunity once again Noir.  Lady Kiaransalee has given you powers in undeath that you never had in life.  Become a champion of the Revenancer and you will become more powerful still!  Do not remain a pawn of the Cormyrian nobles who have abandoned you!  Re-conquer your nation!  You can lead an army – Kurgoth Hellspawn means nothing to me, you can replace him as you will.”Noir thought about the ‘offer.’  Unfortunately, she was hardly in a position to refuse.  If she said no, Dorina would likely force her obedience with the Claw of the Revenancer.  Ultimately, what had her Paladinhood brought her?  She was now a horrible undead thing and could never return to the Dales.  While the fat nobles pontificated and debated she alone had tried to restore her magnificent nation in her own way.  Perhaps the Alienist was right, Noir could only hope to regain her homeland by conquering it herself.“Entropy . . . I hate you and everything you stand for.  The only thing I despise more is Lady Kestrel and the other aristocrats who have abandoned the nation of Cormyr.  I join you only out of necessity, only to resurrect my nation.  I accept your offer.”Smiling, Entropy turned to Dorina T’ssaren, “Dorina, put Noir through the ritual of temptation.”Rising from her seat, the Alienist moved downstairs to meet Jhorgani in her chambers.  Apparently, the drider had something of an artistic sense – Hor’ahun’s flayed corpse hung in a macabre display on the ceiling.  “Jhorgani, I need to talk to my friend, can you do it?”Nodding, the drider gingerly ascended the wall and moved upside down on the ceiling, touching the Githzerai’s corpse.  “A channel to the warrior’s spirit has been opened, Mistress. You may converse freely.”“Hor’ahun?  Can you hear me?”“You back-stabbing bitch!  We should never have trusted you!”“Hor’ahun, would you like to be resurrected?”“Of course I would!  Then I would like to go my own way and put this whole thing behind me.”“I’m afraid that’s not possible old friend.  I give you a choice, serve me as a willing ally in life or become my undead pawn.  What say you?”The Psychic Warrior didn’t really think that was much of a choice.  If he was returned to life, the Alienist would probably kill and animate him as soon as he tried to kill her – which he would try as soon as possible.  However, the Githzerai had gotten himself out of bad situations before.  Perhaps, even in undeath, he could find a way out of his predicament and exact his revenge.“Never, you traitor!  I will never serve you willingly.”“So be it.”-----------------------------------------------------------Dreadmaster Amal spent the majority of the day traveling south towards Tilverton in the form of wind and at blinding speed.  Of course, he would have promised Fzoul anything to avoid an untimely execution.  As he assumed substantial form, Amal looked on in shock at the state of Tilverton.  The entire city was in ruins – not exactly a testament to Irae T’ssaren’s managerial skills.As he strode forward over the ruins, he saw numerous armed camps with hundreds of humanoids.  Though consisting mostly of lowly goblins, the occasional ogre and even fire giant could be seen.  As the Dreadmaster approached the central tower where he assumed Irae was living, a group of Fire Giants approached him.“What are you doing here human?  All must receive Lord Kurgoth’s permission before traveling through Tilverton!”“My apologies, Giant.  I am here for an audience with Irae T’ssaren, Chosen of Kiaranasalee.  Perhaps you could tell me where she could be found?”The extremely disgruntled looks on the giant’s faces told Amal that he may not have chosen his words wisely.</blockquote>

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